Anyone still spinning vinyl?

One of my dad's favorite groups and one of their favorite songs. Where were you in 1972?







"When I listen to this song, so do the neighbors."

Lady Jane wrote

One of my dad's favorite groups and one of their favorite songs. Where were you in 1972?

"When I listen to this song, so do the neighbors."

I remember my dad getting the Magicians Birthday album when it come out, that was about '72.

I'm old!

So I haven't spun vinyl for a while. One of the things that bothered me a bit with my setup was some of the sonic character of my vinyl system. I went through the trouble of getting a very good turntable, tonearm, tube phono preamp, and high output moving coil cartridge.

At any decent volume, I kept hearing "edge" in the midrange particularly around voices and at the upper octaves with pianos. There was also a haze that I couldn't put my finger on the seems to dull out whatever I was playing.

A couple of days ago I decided to follow through with my research on the Vincent Audio PHO-700 tube phono preamp. Based on what I've been reading others have also complained about the sonic signature of this phono preamp. The common suggestion was to replace the stock 12AU7 tube with something better. One reviewer suggested using a PSVANE. I ultimately settled on a Genalex Gold Lion tube ordered from Amazon.

Since I haven't spun any vinyl for a while, I decided to run an album by Tony Bennett and Diana Krall through as a baseline. While it was good to hear the sonic signature that we all love about vinyl again, the complaints I had listed above popped back into my head. I then swapped out the stock unknown sourced tube with the Gold Lion. I did hear differences pretty much immediately. The "edge", grittiness, raspiness in the vocals are pretty much gone. The biggest thing I can pick up on is the dullness/veil I had noticed with the stock tube is now gone. There was no muddiness. Just a nice clear vocal presentation that just hung out in the soundstage. Pianos were also crisper without being shrill.

I'll have to spend some more time with the new tube with the phono preamp properly warmed up for more listening evaluations. So far for just under $60 for the new tube, I'm pretty happy.

Phono preamp with the stock tube:


The new Gold Lion tube. The Gold Lion is on the left of the stock tube:



The phono preamp opened up to gain access to the tube. Had to pull the front panel off because I couldn't get a good enough grip on the tube from the top:




Everything buttoned back up:



Spinning some Tony Bennett and Diana Krall:

zx10guy wrote

So I haven't spun vinyl for a while. One of the things that bothered me a bit with my setup was some of the sonic character of my vinyl system. ...

Looks like some very high end hardware so this may be stupidly obvious, but have you maximized the isolation of that turntable from sonic vibration? Do you get the same problems via earphones?

Maynard wrote

Looks like some very high end hardware so this may be stupidly obvious, but have you maximized the isolation of that turntable from sonic vibration? Do you get the same problems via earphones?

The turntable is sitting on 4 Audioquest Sorbothane feet/pucks. Isolation is pretty decent.

I don't have headphone capability with this system. I probably never will add it. Just don't see the need. The turntable is part of a bigger system that's set up in a dedicated room with multiple speakers and subs along with acoustical treatments on the walls/ceiling.

Rita Coolidge on the TT this evening.

Couldn't resist, got some nostalgia in my eye while pulling the thread...

Anyone on here participate in Record Store Day. My daughter and I picked up some fun ones!

Haven’t listened to Yello’s Stella for a while

A quiet evening with some light classical guitar performed by Canadian Liona Boyd from her 1978 album. And some fruity wine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liona_Boyd

Here's some pics of my system.

Turntables are very vintage Technics SP-15 and SP-25, both with interchangeable tonearms. I know what the legend plate says, but these were never known as an SL series in the US unless the plinth, SP-15 turntable, and the EPA500 tonearm were all there as a set. These were, like the SP-10, broadcast-quality turntables meant to be installed in a booth.



System is 1974 Sansui based, tape is Sony based 1975 ELCASET and R2R. Both R2R are Akai, GX635DB and GX747DBX. Only one R2R in this image.

That's a very cool setup!
You also have the very cool technics stylus pressure gauge!:cool!:

And some very expensive spare wands for your epa-500 by the looks of it, that straight one next to it. Nice if you want to play around with effective mass.

GuidoK wrote

That's a very cool setup!
You also have the very cool technics stylus pressure gauge!:cool!:

And some very expensive spare wands for your epa-500 by the looks of it, that straight one next to it. Nice if you want to play around with effective mass.

Thanks! Both have the straight and S-shaped tonearms with cartridges matched to them.

SP-15 S-arm - Shure VS-15 IV w/ Shibata Elliptical Stylus
SP-15 straight - Audio Technica VM750SH w/ Shibata Elliptical Stylus
SP-25 S-arm - Pickering XV-15 625E
SP-25 straight - Technics EPC-205C-II L

All have been cleaned but not rebuilt, the only change is pure silver wire in the tonearms. Delicate job, that.

All of the Sansui is Definition Series and I have rebuilt all of it. Not just a recap. Working on refurbing the Akia GX-747 R2R and that is a true pain in the rear.

The audio paths have no integrated circuits. Pure discrete and transistor amplification. The only integrated circuits are servo control on the GX-747 and the LED displays on the SP-15.

Here is a better image. The weird looking thing is the FM antenna for the TU-990 tuner.



If you want to hear this system, here are some links.

kattz wrote

Here is a better image. The weird looking thing is the FM antenna for the TU-990 tuner.



If you want to hear this system, here are some links.

Looks like an amazing collection !

NealfromNZ wrote

Looks like an amazing collection !

Thank you.

TBH, it's the equipment that I saw growing up and it was new in stores at that time. I never imagined that someday I would own it! Achievement of a long-time dream.

kattz wrote

Here's some pics of my system.

Turntables are very vintage Technics SP-15 and SP-25, both with interchangeable tonearms. I know what the legend plate says, but these were never known as an SL series in the US unless the plinth, SP-15 turntable, and the EPA500 tonearm were all there as a set. These were, like the SP-10, broadcast-quality turntables meant to be installed in a booth.

System is 1974 Sansui based, tape is Sony based 1975 ELCASET and R2R. Both R2R are Akai, GX635DB and GX747DBX. Only one R2R in this image.

I can remember having the hots for Sansui separates in the 1970s; I thought they were excellent quality. In 1973 I bought a Sansui open reel deck -- one of many I owned over the years -- and I thought it was a real quality deck.

Amazing how the PSB keep making amazing music time and time again. (not sure why the image is on its side)

Joralemon st. wrote

Amazing how the PSB keep making amazing music time and time again. (not sure why the image is on its side)

FIFY

Esteban wrote

FIFY

"Ahahaha — it's magic!"

Moo

I spent a few hours last night toasting my dear brother's memory by going through his album collection. I inherited his vinyl and cd's as no one else wanted them. He played his records and didn't handle them the best, but they are all able to be cleaned as it's just fingerprints and dust etc. I had too many beers and a couple shots of cinnamon whisky, but the wife was away she'll never know.

The wife got me an early Christmas present in the form of the Sony PS-LX310BT record player. My intent is to "rip" the albums to mp3s and save them. The Sony is not anything like my brother had or what I see here, but it works. I have a decent 5.1 system with Klipsch separates and sub and the living room was filled with music.

A lot of his vinyl was from the late 60's up to the 80's. He had all of the Beatles, CCR, Led Zepplin, Boston, etc. and much I had bever heard of before. I was a small child when he got back from the Nam, and I grew up listening to my older siblings music as I was the youngest, and I have many good memories of sitting with him listening to the Grass Roots or the Stones. I must admit someone was cutting onions in the living room for some reason